# Any Model Builders here? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 28, 2017, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-model-builders-here/783215 "2017-03-28T13:10:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2017, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-model-builders-here/783215/21 "2017-03-28T22:44:14Z")
I built a few model kits about 15 years ago, and then I discovered model railroading. Woah. I’m not slowing down yet, way into N-scale railroading. It’s so much fun! ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2017, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-model-builders-here/783215/22 "2017-03-28T23:12:30Z")
When my dad retired, the guys at the office gave him a little HO switch engine. It was like touching a torch to a field of dry grass. Pretty much before my mother could react, he had filled half the basement with a monstrous two-level layout. He had a load of fun building it. I used to kid him that people on his layout tended to be unlucky: One guy had piled his car into a telephone pole outside the bawdy house, another had gotten run over by a steamroller, and another was adrift on a raft with a goat. Why a goat, I have no idea 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Avery\_Weisman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d78d45/32.png) [@Avery\_Weisman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avery_Weisman)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2017, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-model-builders-here/783215/23 "2017-03-28T23:24:39Z")
I’m waiting for doll house makers to speak up. Hmmmmm… ---
**Author:** ![Apollyon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apollyon/32/4238_2.png) [@Apollyon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apollyon)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2017, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-model-builders-here/783215/24 "2017-03-29T00:48:44Z")
> [@Enright3](#): > > My comment about plastic kits is, of course, in reference to the plastic kits we’d buy as a kid that anyone can put together disassembling the pieces and snapping them together. Well, there are of course actual “adult” kitsets (such as some of the large scale anime figure kits) but that means something just a wee bit different… :eek: Good luck with your quest, but be warned, model making may be prove the gateway drug to tabletop gaming, and that way lies madness (and penury). 😃 ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2017, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-model-builders-here/783215/25 "2017-03-29T01:59:23Z")
I made a ton of model airplanes when I was in junior high–all those kits from Airfix, Monogram and Revell. When allowance day came I would make a beeline to the hobby shop for the latest model–I specifically remember when the “battle-damaged” kits came out with various Vietnam-era fighter bombers. I lost interest when I discovered rock ‘n’ roll but I still love to check out the models when I visit aircraft and military museums. As far as “serious” modeling goes, check out the website for the [Miniature Engineering Craftsmanship Museum](http://craftsmanshipmuseum.com/) in Carlsbad, CA–a must visit if you’re ever in the area. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2017, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-model-builders-here/783215/26 "2017-03-29T02:02:23Z")
Model rocketry… [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/cskex4KRdHw/maxresdefault.jpg "Estes Sequoia launch 2 (24OFPS)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cskex4KRdHw) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/O0481f5e5M0/maxresdefault.jpg "Estes Amazon launch (240 FPS SLOMO)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0481f5e5M0) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/okSiUjq7XOs/maxresdefault.jpg "Maiden voyage of Sage's Estes SkyWriter") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okSiUjq7XOs) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/itdfw1CiWqM/maxresdefault.jpg "Estes Big Bertha maiden voyage") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itdfw1CiWqM) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/1YqxJ75xt_U/maxresdefault.jpg "Modified Estes Amazon on C6-5") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YqxJ75xt_U) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/cghJG1bf2yI/maxresdefault.jpg "Repaired OctoBertha (nearly perfect flight)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cghJG1bf2yI) ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2017, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-model-builders-here/783215/27 "2017-03-29T05:08:27Z")
I collect and occasionally build Tamiya 1/20 scale Formula One cars. Trying to collect them all, but can’t find a reasonable McLaren James Hunt. I always get about 90% done, than bail. I’ve got boxes of unfinished cars in the closet. I took all the tires out and rigged up a scuffing machine to make them look “real and used”. I clearly have too much time on my hands. As a kid, I did some 1/12 scale ones. Still got them in some dusty dark closet. My favorite is the Lauda Ferrari B12T. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2017, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-model-builders-here/783215/28 "2017-03-29T16:09:52Z")
Before we had kids, I had a model railroad (HO scale, about 1:87) and building models of train cars and structures was my favorite part of the hobby. When our family expanded I lost the floor space I needed for my layout, but I still occasionally buy and construct models of buildings, automobiles, boxcars, etc. or even small diorama-type scenes. You can do anything from just painting tiny pre-cast figures to scratchbuilding large apartment buildings from stick basswood or styrene. Hopefully, once my kids move out after college I’ll be able to reclaim some layout space and use these structures I’ve been putting together for 15 years. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2017, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-model-builders-here/783215/29 "2017-03-29T16:59:44Z")
> [@Avery\_Weisman](#): > > I’m waiting for doll house makers to speak up. Hmmmmm… First of all, did Avery really get BANNED today? 😕 Regardless, it was actually a dollhouse picture that started me on this new journey. I saw a photo where someone had made a ‘doll house’ out of an old dresser with the drawers removed. I thought it was rather creative and before you know it I’m looking at airplanes, doll houses, realistic home models until I finally decided to see what’s what. 🙂 I’m definitely interested in dollhouse (and miniature furniture) modeling as it might provide me another way to interact with my granddaughters (ages 6 and 8). 🙂 I’m interested in working/mechanical models so building a model trebuchet is more interesting to me than a car w/o moving components. Model railroading seems like it’d be pretty cool with the train and the platform development. It seems like it has it all. Thanks to Rocketeer, resin modeling seems amazing, but I could see that requiring an amazingly steady hand (which don’t I think I possess to that degree. I’m not a huge sci-fi guy so that entire genre probably on the low end of my interest scale. At least until one of my kids give me a grandson. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2017, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-model-builders-here/783215/30 "2017-03-29T22:04:42Z")
A quick Google search turned this up: > **[Make-Your-Own Miniature Furniture for a Dollhouse or Fairy Garden](https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/make-dollhouse-furniture-free-projects-2365462)** > > These clear photo instructions help develop techniques that can be used for many styles of furniture and historic periods. I’m sure there are others on Pinterest with a quick look see. ---
**Author:** ![Randolph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Randolph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randolph)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2017, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-model-builders-here/783215/31 "2017-03-29T22:44:17Z")
I haven’t built a model in decades, but [this](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005MZ651Q) arrived in the mail today - saw it, had to have it. I’m sure I put the cap back on the Testors quite tightly back in the 1980’s - now, where did I leave it… ? ---
**Author:** ![stosh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@stosh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stosh)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-model-builders-here/783215/32 "2017-03-30T02:50:54Z")
Barns and Nobel has a large selection of model magazines. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-model-builders-here/783215/33 "2017-03-30T13:35:37Z")
I’m a Warhammer 40K player, so I do a lot of model assembly and painting. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-model-builders-here/783215/34 "2017-03-30T15:29:12Z")
Best advice. Decide on a subject, based perhaps on ease of assembly. Join an online forum devoted to the particular genre of modeling. Identify yourself as a newbie to the hobby and go from there. If the site I belong to is indicative of others in the (broadly defined) hobby, everybody will want to help because we all recognize that this hobby needs all the participants it can get to stay viable. Seriously the ratio of good guys to a-holes is even more favorable than it is here, and that’s saying something. ---
**Author:** ![Kzbre5m](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f08c70/32.png) [@Kzbre5m](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kzbre5m)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-model-builders-here/783215/35 "2017-03-30T16:13:58Z")
Adam Savage (yes, from Mythbusters) has a ton of youtube videos about projects he works on, from models to reproductions to, well, everything. His workshop is probably more extensive than anyone, but it is inspirational to watch him work. Be forewarned, have a place to work, a place to store current projects, and a place to display finished works. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-model-builders-here/783215/36 "2017-03-30T16:21:53Z")
> [@Enright3](#): > > I hope so! That’s pretty much my childhood modeling experience. That and scores of unfinished balsa wood airplanes! I’m not sure I ever actually met anyone who has ever finished one of those things. My best friend in middle school got so far as putting the paper on the wings, but I don’t think he ever finished it. I used to build them as a 13/14/15yo back before the interweb. Started with simple gliders; moved up to elastic power and then on to tiny engines. Sadly, radio control was in its infancy then and very expensive. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-model-builders-here/783215/37 "2017-03-30T22:56:03Z")
I sniffed a lot of glue in my time :eek: Well, that is to say I built a lot of spacecraft models, ship models, tank models, and the like. My favorite is the Cutty Sark sailing ship, with thread for rigging all over everywhere. About once a year, I indulge in nostalgia, and buy a kit. (The one I most regret was botching the pin-striping on the Batmobile. Made just a nasty mess. I should have just spray-painted it black again, but I didn’t know I had that option – young at the time – so I threw the darn thing in the fireplace.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-model-builders-here/783215.md?page=1)